Test: Depth Contrast, Perspective

New test. This tests are to help try new ideas and develop clear communication to what SCUBA might finally look like. The final composition does not have to look exactly like this, but rather these provide a base to explore more (I don't want to micro manage Chad's compositions). This is a quick sketch piece done in pencil, entitled:

"RE: Purple Yellow Landscape."
-The never-ending horizon isn't working with me. It makes the eye of the camera seem perched too high up, making a straight profile of the swimmers out of perspective. This new approach sticks closer to the ground, thus creating a shallower horizon.
-Also the levels, the Dutch Master's approach (going from dark and fading to light) works well for LANDscapes, but I think we need the inverse for underwater. This will also allow us to more easily create the wall of bubbles (quick visibility fall-off as seen in below picture with sea horse) if we want to.

Notes:
-There are two swimmers, one is green and one is magenta (though they are the same drawing)




I will post more later on the use of painted concrete 3D models for in this shot.
^____^

Rough Test

Here's a quickie. I just wanted to see how the comp was working in motion, and how the colors were interacting. I am thinking of something in this direction for the first part of the ocean the swimmers see.

I also wanted to mess around in A.E.

Things I liked:
-I simply cut up the purple/yellow landscape into strips and helped create space in the lateral motion.
-Eugene's seahorse swimming through the arch.
-The contrasting colors- Yellow, Purple, Orange, Green

Things to improve:
-Better Scans of Images
-More variety of shapes
-Things are too bright! We need a lair of darkness, otherwise it's not scary. Have things disappear into darkness.
-Figure out horizon. Will we see the ceiling? How is the visibility?
-How do you move the legs of a squid?

Scuba Revitalized

It makes me happy that we are working together on this now, albeit separated by space. Seems like you two are having a good time watercoloring. That is probably the thing we need the most of at this point. I do like the idea of doing some of the camera work analog style and then compositing into that. as long as things are smooth and trackable (tracking points on greenscreen), it shouldn't be a nightmare to combine all the elements. it does complicate things, but possibly in a good way.

If someone else wants to head up the diarama-move filming, that would be great. I don't have the time to dedicate to it.

I talked to Karen and she said she can do some photoshop work to help prep the new images for compositing. This will be quite helpful.

Another thing to start considering is sound design. I'm not sure if Peter still wants to play a role in this project, but that is something that can be happening right now.

Lots of elements to collide. Direct us to action, sir Eddy!

Chris Ware Cover

I really like this use of florescent pink and bleeding color.
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #19, Cover

Another Rock

Taking color in a different direction. To much of this, and it may become psychedelic.

We post like crazy

Easy dawning. It's just the restless years, so close behind.

Arch Models?

Here is a painting of an arch the swimmers will swim through. Imagine a bunch of rock pieces sticking out of the below purple and yellow landscape. They could be paintings, but what if they were models, all at different distances. Kind of cool, maybe?

It's definitely easier to paint them.

Sea Horse

Eugene found this picture.

How do we imagine the horizon? Eugene likes how everything is blended in a haze.

Any thoughts?

Creatures

Eugene is focusing on more sea creatures.

Here is a squid. What is the best way to animate tentacle legs? How should it be painted? Eugene made spare legs to attach to this.

Dutch Masters meets Eugene Dening

The Vancouver Art Gallery is holding some of the Dutch Masters. It is really good. One thing I've picked up from them is creating depth. Their landscapes would seem never ending, with alternating patches of dark and light.

I want to use this approach to create the landscapes in SCUBA. I'm trying to use some of Eugene's colors to do this.

It is much better to think of the landscape than focusing on little rocks. It's bigger picture, for sure. The foreground is more detailed and full of color.

Also, when I scanned in the landscape, the page lifted from the scanner and created a natural blur. Do you like that? How does this look different from a after effects blur?